Page 47 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

I smirked at her, the motion earning a raised brow from her. "I guess kidnapping wasn't entirely off the table."

She laughed again, clearly not believing I would kidnap her. I laughed along with her even though I was almost certain I would. I'd do anything to keep her safe. It was either to inform her dad about Ethan's fragile state of mind and risk him taking her back to the Middle East or I take matters into my own hands and keep her here with me. There was no way I'd last a day without her, so it was an easy choice to make.

As we rounded the final bend in the driveway, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Yasmin. Her eyes widened in awe as the sprawling mansion came into view. I felt a swell of pride. Seeing her so taken aback by my home made the years of hard work and sacrifice seem worth it. Building hotels from the ground up was my passion so when it came to building my home, it took some time to make it perfect. However, I was willing to let her make changes to make her feel as at home as I did.

I stopped the car, got out, and walked around to her side, opening the door for her. She was awestruck as we walked up the stone steps to the grand entrance. The double doors swung open, revealing a line of staff standing in the marble-floored foyer, waiting to greet us. I had given them a heads-up about our arrival, but the sight of them all neatly arranged and ready was still impressive.

"Welcome back, Mr. Rafael," the head housekeeper, Mrs. Rossi, said with a polite bow. She was a stern but kind woman who had run the household with military precision for the past two years.

"Thank you, Mrs. Rossi," I replied, giving her a nod before turning to Yasmin. "Everyone, this is Yasmin- my fiancée. She'll be living here from now on."

There was a chorus of polite greetings and warm smiles. I could see Yasmin's initial hesitation melting away, replaced by a shy but genuine smile. I gestured to the head housekeeper. "This is Mrs. Thompson, our head housekeeper. If you need anything, she's the person to go to."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Yasmin," Mrs. Thompson said, stepping forward. "This is Johnson, he’s our chef. Marie, Angela, and Carmen handle all the cleaning. And these are Carlos, Elena, Derek, and Michael, they're a part of you and Mr. Amato's security. More guards are around the estate, but you'll meet them eventually."

Yasmin nodded, acknowledging each introduction with a smile. After the brief introductions, I suggested we head to our respective quarters to freshen up. As we walked through the hallways, Yasmin’s curiosity got the better of her.

"Rafael, why do you have so many security guards?" she asked her tone a mix of concern and curiosity.

"It's just a precaution," I reassured her. "Who knows what Ethan's up to?"

Her brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. "I guess that makes sense. It’s just... I wasn't expecting it."

I was about to respond when my phone buzzed insistently in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen and saw it was a call I couldn't ignore.

"Sorry, Yasmin, I have to take this," I said, already dreading the interruption.

As if on cue, Marie appeared from a side corridor, a warm smile on her face. "I'll take it from here, Mr. Rafael. Yasmin, if you'll follow me?"

I watched them walk away, Yasmin throwing a curious glance over her shoulder before turning the corner. I sighed, ran a hand through my hair, and answered the call.

-33-

Yasmin

As I walked down the grand, winding staircase, I couldn’t help but marvel at the intricate details of the mansion. The polished mahogany banister gleamed under the soft lighting, and the deep red carpet muffled our footsteps, adding to the sense of quiet elegance. Beside me, Marie moved with an ease that spoke of time spent navigating these halls.

“So, how long have you worked here, Marie?” I asked, trying to fill the silence with friendly chatter. Her demeanor had been kind and welcoming, which immediately put me at ease.

“Oh, it’s been about a year now,” she replied, with a warm smile. “I used to get lost a lot but after a while, you get used to it.”

I chuckled at that. “I have a feeling I might have the same problem.”

She nodded. “Maybe. But this place has a way of growing on you fast. You’ll see.”

Her words were comforting, and I relaxed more with each step we took. I glanced around, taking in the interior design. The walls were adorned with paintings that seemed to tell stories of their own, and the chandeliers above sparkled like clusters of tiny stars.

“So, you’re engaged to Mr. Amato,” Marie said, breaking into my thoughts. There was a curious lilt to her voice, as if she were probing for a deeper story.

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady but my heart fluttering at the thought of him. “We decided to make it official. I guess moving in was the next logical step.”

Marie smiled knowingly. “Well, I’m sure you’ll be happy here. Mr. Amato is a good man.”

"Do you know him very well?"

"Not really but he treats us kindly so I'm sure he'll treat you the same."

We walked in companionable silence for a few moments longer before Marie stopped in front of a large wooden door. “This will be your room,” she said, pushing it open with a flourish.

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